Summary of editorials from the Hebrew press

​The Jerusalem Post notes that “Controversy surrounding the cabinet shuffle might be commanding public attention, but the grim realities of Israel’s economic challenges are not going anywhere,” and asserts: “The newly enlarged government has a duty to address these challenges as it formulates economic policy for the next two years.”

Haaretz is incensed by Avigdor Lieberman’s intent to focus on an attempt to permit military courts in the territories to impose the death penalty as a condition for joining the coalition, and asserts: “This is an attempt to apply the death penalty to only one population group only: the Palestinians.” The editor states: “The claim that the state ought to have the authority to put terrorists to death by court order also leads to support for executions motivated by revenge,” and argues that “This is the road to moral degeneration, ending in a violent, undemocratic society that lacks the rule of law. In this regard, it’s possible to see a link between the circumstances under which Lieberman is replacing Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Lieberman’s insistence on adopting capital punishment.”

Yediot Aharonot asserts: “If it weren’t for the parties involved, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s recent call for peace between Israel and the Palestinians could have been viewed as an historical speech almost on par with legendary Egyptian president Anwar Sadat’s speech seeking peace with Israel. But, of course, we are not dealing with Sadat and Begin here, but with another Middle Eastern farce, a bad joke made at our expense. What began as a diplomatic move has turned into an inner-party fight for political survival that’s thrown a wrench in the works, as the current Avigdor Lieberman-Benjamin Netanyahu combination lacks what is needed to begin negotiating with the Arab League.” The author laments that tensions in the territories will continue to rise and Egypt will remain frustrated, and states that while Sisi “is talking about policies and diplomatic proceedings, in Israel the focus is on internal politics and personal survival.”

Israel Hayom believes that the solution to the tragic plight of the illegal Middle Eastern immigrants who are battling to get into Europe is none than Saudi Arabia and the other rich Arab sheikhdoms.‎ The author adds: “That wealthy Arab states are so miserly in opening their arms to Sunni Muslims in stress reveals ‎currents of selfishness and hypocrisy,” and asserts: “Their unhelpfulness should not be rewarded; it’s high time ‎that governments and refugee organizations stop focusing on Europe and instead turn to those ‎Arab countries capable, with relative ease, to take in, house, and employ their desperate brethren.”‎